System and method for blending multiple fuels

Abstract

A method of blending at least two fuels includes providing at least two fuels to a cyclonic mixer via a fuel supply system, the fuel supply system including a fuel supply circuit for each fuel of the at least two fuels, mixing, via at least one vortex formed in the cyclonic mixer, the at least two fuels to form a fuel mixture, determining, via one or more sensors, a measured interchangeability index of the fuel mixture, comparing the measured interchangeability index to a predetermined interchangeability index, adjusting, via the fuel supply system, one or more parameters of at least one of the at least two fuels based on the comparison between the measured interchangeability index and the predetermined interchangeability index, and providing the fuel mixture to a combustion system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of blending at least two fuels, the method comprising:
 providing at least two fuels to a cyclonic mixer via a fuel supply system, the cyclonic mixer including a housing that includes a barrel portion and a cone portion, a gas outlet extending from the barrel portion and a particle outlet extending from the cone portion, the fuel supply system including a fuel supply circuit for each fuel of the at least two fuels; 
 mixing, via at least one vortex formed in the cyclonic mixer, the at least two fuels to form a fuel mixture; 
 determining, via one or more sensors, a measured interchangeability index of the fuel mixture, the interchangeability index being one of a measured Wobbe Index of the fuel mixture or a measured Modified Wobbe Index of the fuel mixture; 
 comparing the measured interchangeability index to a predetermined interchangeability index; 
 adjusting, via the fuel supply system, one or more parameters of at least one of the at least two fuels based on the comparison between the measured interchangeability index and the predetermined interchangeability index; and 
 providing the fuel mixture to a combustion system. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more parameters include at least one of a pressure, a temperature, an amount, and a flow rate. 
     
     
       3. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the one or more parameters comprises:
 adjusting a temperature of at least one of the at least two fuels via an electric heater disposed in thermal communication on the fuel supply circuit. 
 
     
     
       4. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the one or more parameters comprises:
 adjusting an amount of at least one of the at least two fuels provided to the cyclonic mixer by modulating a control valve disposed in fluid communication on the fuel supply circuit. 
 
     
     
       5. The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to providing the fuel mixture to the combustion system, providing the fuel mixture from the cyclonic mixer to a second cyclonic mixer. 
     
     
       6. The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising providing the fuel mixture from the cyclonic mixer to a second cyclonic mixer, mixing the fuel mixture with another one of the at least two fuels in the second cyclonic mixer to form a second fuel mixture, and providing the second fuel mixture to the combustion system. 
     
     
       7. The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising combusting the fuel mixture in the combustion system to form exhaust gases and providing at least some of the exhaust gases to the fuel supply system as one of the at least two fuels. 
     
     
       8. The method as in  claim 7 , further comprising providing ammonia to the exhaust gases prior to providing the at least some of the exhaust gases to the fuel supply system. 
     
     
       9. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel supply circuit includes a main fuel supply line, an electric heater disposed in thermal communication on the main fuel supply line and one or more valves disposed in fluid communication on the main fuel supply line downstream of the electric heater, a recirculation line extending from the main fuel supply line, and an atmospheric vent line extending from the main fuel supply line. 
     
     
       10. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel supply system further includes an outlet line extending from the cyclonic mixer to the combustion system, wherein a heat exchanger is disposed in thermal communication on the outlet line. 
     
     
       11. A system for blending at least two fuels, the system comprising:
 a combustion system; 
 a cyclonic mixer; 
 a fuel supply system for supplying at least two fuels to the cyclonic mixer and the combustion system, the fuel supply system including a fuel supply circuit for each fuel of the at least two fuels and an outlet line extending from the cyclonic mixer to the combustion system, wherein a heat exchanger is disposed in thermal communication on the outlet line; 
 one or more sensors operably connected to the fuel supply system; 
 a controller operably connected to the fuel supply system, the cyclonic mixer, and the one or more sensors, the controller including the controller including memory and one or more processors, the memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the system to perform one or more operations including:
 providing at least two fuels to the cyclonic mixer via a fuel supply system; 
 mixing, via at least one vortex formed in the cyclonic mixer, the at least two fuels to form a fuel mixture; 
 determining, via one or more sensors, a measured interchangeability index of the fuel mixture, the interchangeability index being one of a measured Wobbe Index of the fuel mixture or a measured Modified Wobbe Index of the fuel mixture; 
 comparing the measured interchangeability index to a predetermined interchangeability index; 
 adjusting, via the fuel supply system, one or more parameters of at least one of the at least two fuels based on the comparison between the measured interchangeability index and the predetermined interchangeability index; and 
 providing the fuel mixture to the combustion system. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The system as in  claim 11 , wherein the one or more parameters include at least one of a pressure, a temperature, an amount, and a flow rate. 
     
     
       13. The system as in  claim 11 , wherein adjusting the one or more parameters comprises:
 adjusting a temperature of at least one of the at least two fuels via an electric heater disposed in thermal communication on the fuel supply circuit. 
 
     
     
       14. The system as in  claim 11 , wherein adjusting the one or more parameters comprises:
 adjusting an amount of at least one of the at least two fuels provided to the cyclonic mixer by modulating a control valve disposed in fluid communication on the fuel supply circuit. 
 
     
     
       15. The system as in  claim 11 , further comprising a second cyclonic mixer downstream of the cyclonic mixer, and wherein the one or more operations further include further comprising providing the fuel mixture from the cyclonic mixer to the second cyclonic mixer, mixing the fuel mixture with another one of the at least two fuels via the second cyclonic mixer to form a second fuel mixture, and providing the second fuel mixture to the combustion system. 
     
     
       16. The system as in  claim 11 , wherein the one or more operations further include combusting the fuel mixture in the combustion system to form exhaust gases and providing at least some of the exhaust gases to the fuel supply system as one of the at least two fuels. 
     
     
       17. The system as in  claim 16 , wherein the one or more operations further include providing ammonia to the exhaust gases prior to providing the at least some of the exhaust gases to the fuel supply system. 
     
     
       18. The system as in  claim 11 , further comprising a second cyclonic mixer and a third cyclonic mixer, wherein the cyclonic mixer and the second cyclonic mixer are in fluid communication with the third cyclonic mixer. 
     
     
       19. The system as in  claim 11 , wherein the fuel supply circuit includes a main fuel supply line, an electric heater disposed in thermal communication on the main fuel supply line and one or more valves disposed in fluid communication on the main fuel supply line downstream of the electric heater, a recirculation line extending from the main fuel supply line, and an atmospheric vent line extending from the main fuel supply line. 
     
     
       20. A method of blending at least two fuels, the method comprising:
 providing at least two fuels to a cyclonic mixer via a fuel supply system, the fuel supply system including a fuel supply circuit for each fuel of the at least two fuels; 
 mixing, via at least one vortex formed in the cyclonic mixer, the at least two fuels to form a fuel mixture; 
 determining, via one or more sensors, a measured interchangeability index of the fuel mixture, the interchangeability index being one of a measured Wobbe Index of the fuel mixture or a measured Modified Wobbe Index of the fuel mixture; 
 comparing the measured interchangeability index to a predetermined interchangeability index; 
 adjusting, via the fuel supply system, one or more parameters of at least one of the at least two fuels based on the comparison between the measured interchangeability index and the predetermined interchangeability index; 
 providing the fuel mixture from the cyclonic mixer to a second cyclonic mixer; and 
 providing the fuel mixture to a combustion system.